Let buddies shoot...but KEEP AN EYE on them!!!!

[igor]

The most important lesson a newbie can get is that shooting with real firearms is nothing like what they see on TV. I tend to drive that home with real extensive dry practice observing all the rules.

Joe, welcome aboard! Gotta love your sig rant, but might be that some parts are not in total compliance with forum rules...

 

[sturmruger]

I am embarrassed to admit I have made the same mistake. I only did it once and have since become super diligent about loading the correct caliber. I have a Steyr M40 and a M9. They both look identical and all the parts interchange. One time I was at the range I grabbed the M40, and a mag of 9mm!!! I loaded the gun took the first shot, and knew something was not right. It sure as hell didn’t feel like .40 to me. It did not eject the shell, I had to drop the mag and manually remove the case from the chamber. It did swell up, but was easy to remove. That scared the crap out of me. Those are the kinds of mistake that will get you in real trouble. I am glad I haven’t done that again.

 

[Evil_Ed]

My .02 ...
You should have a polite discussion with the friend who invited the new guy without checking with you first. Your guns, your rules, your time wasted so it is only polite if the guy talks to you before inviting someone you have never met to tag along.

Second I would get the number for the guy that screwed up and call him. You don't want to turn the guy off of shooting forever because of one stupid mistake, we all screw up now and again...especially when learning a new discipline. I would offer to take the guy out one on one next time so he can get a good grounding in the basics.

Third, back to your friend who invited the extra guy... He should have been the one babysitting the new guy especially since he invited him without discussing it with you first. When you invite someone to an event like this you take on some responsibility for their actions.

In regards to some of the weird mishaps that happen on the range, my first time shooting an autoloader pistol I caught a hot piece of brass between my glasses and my face... left a small burn but I was able to set the gun down before cursing and hopping around. Lesson learned: buy a cap with a bill, it shades the eyes as well as protects your face from the flying brass. I never shoot without a hat on anymore.

Regards,

 

[larryw]

Evil_Ed makes some good points, especially #2.

 

[Lightsped]

I had a similar experience and it was with a SIG too. A friend of mine who is fairly new to guns (he does have a old 22 rifle) was shooting my SIG 229. He decides he wants to pose for a picture so after the gun is emptied, he tucks the gun in his pants (like Stallone in Cobra), well, after doing so, his belt buckle or snaps leaves a huge long brass colored scratch on my slide. The scratch is fairly obvious to me and other gun folks, I don't think he ever noticed. I did get most of the scratch out with elbow grease, but it is still there if you look.

I didn't ask him about the scratch or bring it up. I just let it go. Afterall, I got plenty of guns so I am not going to make a scene over a nasty scratch. I did learn a lesson though. Only one gun per group (I am always the one bringing the guns) so only one gun will be in action at a time, I'll hold all the rest of them myself....